Welcome autumn with these 12 fresh, vibrant salads featuring apples, pears, roasted squash, and other fall favorites.

While it may not be officially fall just yet, here in Western North Carolina, we’re already seeing hints of the season ahead. A few trees are beginning to show their colors, and the cooler days are such a welcome change.

One of our favorite ways to celebrate the shift is with a fresh, vibrant salad made with the best fall produce, think crisp apples, juicy pears, and roasted squash. These salads are perfect for a light lunch or side, and they pair beautifully with your favorite protein for a simple, delicious dinner. Be sure to save these recipes and enjoy them all season long!

Roasted Carrot Salad with Honey Cider Poppy Seed Dressing

This delicious Roasted Carrot Salad with Honey Cider Dressing is a perfect (and gorgeous) side for just about any entree. It also makes a fabulous vegetarian meal on its own!

Caramelized Pear Arugula Salad

This Caramelized Pear Arugula Salad is a show-stopper with fresh greens, pan-roasted pears, ruby red pomegranates, thin slivers of sweet white onion and butter-roasted pecans. The delicious honey cider dressing ties it all together.

Fall Salad with Pumpkin Maple Vinaigrette

This vibrant fall salad is the perfect way to embrace autumn. It’s with loaded healthy, seasonal ingredients and a fabulous pumpkin dressing.

Harvest Apple Arugula Salad

If you enjoy the flavors of Fall, you’re going to LOVE this new salad. It’s fresh, healthy, beautiful, and oh… SO delicious!

Arugula Roasted Grape Salad

This delicious, healthy Arugula Roasted Grape Salad makes a wonderful side or a fabulous main dish served with chicken, shrimp, salmon.

Mediterranean Black Lentil Salad

This Mediterranean Black Lentil Salad with a garlicky lemon dressing is the ONE you need to take to every potluck, picnic and/or party that you’re invited to! It’s loaded with healthy ingredients, can be made ahead and is irresistibly delicious (even to kale and lentil naysayers!)

Butternut Squash Black Rice Salad

This fabulous Butternut Squash Black Rice Salad is healthy, fresh and bursting with bright flavor. A simple lemon-olive oil dressing ties it all together with pizazz!

Sweet Potato Quinoa Salad

With a delicious honey-lime dressing, this healthy, hearty salad is a perfect side for chicken, shrimp, pork, steak, etc. It also makes a fabulous (and beautiful) vegetarian meal.

Apple Cranberry Spinach Salad

Apple Cranberry Spinach Salad with Honey Cider Dressing – an insanely delicious and super healthy salad – perfect for any get-together with family and friends!

Roasted Butternut Farro Salad

This hearty, healthy Butternut Farro Salad includes roasted grapes and lots of fresh herbs. It makes an incredibly delicious side for grilled or roasted entrees and a lovely light meal for fall and winter!

Pepita Pecorino Kale Salad (Hillman’s Pub Copycat Recipe)

A bright, vibrantly flavored salad, this Pepita Pecorino Kale Salad pairs deliciously with pizza, burgers, roasted or grilled entreés and it makes a healthy, hearty meal topped with grilled chicken. The easy brown-butter-roasted pepitas are the crunchy crowning glory!

Ballymaloe Quinoa Sweet Potato Salad

This Asian-inspired, Quinoa Sweet Potato Salad is super healthy, can be prepped ahead and simply bursts with bright, fresh, delicious flavor!

Thought for the Day:

We have this HOPE as an anchor
for the soul, firm & secure.
Hebrews 6:19

What we’re listening to for inspiration

Living Hope